Bukayo Saka injury news: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confirms thigh surgery as striker expected to be out for at least two months | Football News

Bukayo Saka will be sidelined until at least March after undergoing surgery on his hamstring, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has revealed.

Arsenal moved back into second place in the Premier League table with a 1-0 win over Ipswich at the Emirates – their first game without Saka since the England winger made an impact in last weekend’s 5-1 win over Crystal Palace the right thigh muscle had torn.

Ahead of Friday’s game, Arteta said 23-year-old Saka would be sidelined for “many weeks” but in the moments after his side secured a win that kept the pressure on leaders Liverpool, Arteta set a shorter time frame for his star .

“He had a procedure and everything went well, but unfortunately he will be out for many, many weeks,” Arteta said.

“It will take more than two months. I don’t know exactly how much longer. It depends on how the scar tissue begins to heal in the first week or so and how mobile the scar tissue is. It’s very difficult to say.”

“Bukayo’s replacement will be the team. There were moments when things were going well tonight and moments when you could see that there is still a lot to do. But I’m sure we’ll manage it. We have to rely on the team and not the individual.

The duration of Saka’s injury will be a huge blow to Arteta, who is aiming for Arsenal’s first Premier League title in two decades.

In Saka’s absence and in the Gunners’ final game of 2024, Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the game midway through the opening period.

Gabriel, Havertz and Martin Odegaard all missed chances to extend Arsenal’s lead in the second period, but their win brings them back within six points of leaders Liverpool – having played a game more than the Reds – and, after their boxing out, one point ahead of Chelsea Daily defeat against Fulham.

Arteta continued: “I’m very happy with the win, the goals we conceded and big parts of the game. They are a difficult opponent and we play so many games.”

“You see teams winning by small margins. Today we could have increased this lead, but we couldn’t do that and we kept our nerve and defended well in the last few minutes.”

“We should have scored more goals. We had great chances in the second half, Gabriel’s great header from a meter, but the team was consistent and didn’t concede anything, and that’s something that always gives us the chance to win games.”

Arsenal will be in action against Brentford on New Year’s Day. Ipswich, who remain second from bottom and three points from safety, host Chelsea on Monday evening.

Ipswich suffered a heavy 4-0 home defeat against Newcastle in the game before their trip to the Emirates, their fifth defeat in six games.

“It was a good step back in the right direction for us,” said coach Kieran McKenna. “We didn’t reach our level against Newcastle. We knew today that we had to be resilient and we did that.”

Analysis: Arteta still needs to work on finding a formula without Saka

Sky Sports’ Nick Wright at Emirates Stadium:

Arteta promised Arsenal would be “different” without Saka. He knows that he has no direct replacement for the 23-year-old. However, based on this evidence, it could take some time to find a working formula in his absence as he begins an extended period on the sidelines.

Martinelli was chosen to take on the role of Arsenal’s right winger after impressing after switching to the side following Saka’s withdrawal in the win at Crystal Palace, but he struggled as he failed to register a single shot created chances or even just completed a dribble.

The goal came from the opposite side of the pitch when Trossard turned away from Ben Johnson and sent a teasing cross into the six-yard box where Havertz struck. But Arsenal continued to direct a greater proportion of their attacks down the right.

Martinelli wasn’t the only one they were looking at. Martin Odegaard provided support and Arteta’s front line was more fluid than usual, with Gabriel Jesus and Havertz also appearing on that flank and swapping positions with each other before Jesus was substituted.

Their freedom of movement caused Ipswich problems at times, but Arsenal generally struggled to create chances, except for one moment in the second half when they fired brilliantly at the visitors’ goal.

Havertz is ready to stand up – but others must follow his example

Sky Sports’ Ben Grounds at Emirates Stadium:

“It’s true that you can’t score five goals every week and there was a certain satisfaction in the voices of the home fans as they shouted ‘1-0 to Arsenal’ at the final whistle.”

“That was a poor performance that wouldn’t bother Mikel Arteta amid the crowded fixtures. Check that one off and move on to the next one.”

“It’s a game that won’t be remembered for long, but it’s one that Arsenal ultimately won thanks to Kai Havertz’s elusive escape from the ball.”

“The German was simply rewarded for not standing still. His cockiness later resulted in a yellow card, but in Saka’s absence it was important he continued his impressive performance throughout 2024.”

“His decisive goal was his 24th goal participation of the calendar year – just four fewer than Saka. As long as Starboy is out injured, Havertz must continue his attempt to score the goal.”

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